The legend that was Alan Ball. May he rest in peace.

England 1966 World Cup winner Alan Ball has died at the age of 61 after suffering a heart attack.

The midfielder won 72 caps for his country in a ten-year England career and starred for both Everton and Arsenal.

Awarded an MBE for services to football in 2000, Ball is the second member of the side that beat West Germany 4-2 at Wembley to die after captain Bobby Moore lost his battle with cancer in 1993.

Born on May 12, 1945, Ball joined Blackpool in 1961, making his league debut for the club as a 17-year-old in 1962. He was first picked for England in May 1965, playing in a 1-1 draw against Yugoslavia in Belgrade.

At 21 he was the youngest member of Sir Alf Ramsey's victorious 1966 England team. Ramsey was supposed not to favour wingers, but Ball kept powering down the right wing, tormenting the experienced German full back Karl-Heinz Schnellinger.

It was Ball, pushing himself to the limits in extra time, who crossed for Geoff Hurst to produce his famous shot that gave England a 3-2 lead.

A few moments later people were on the pitch and it really was all over as Hurst made it 4-2 and Ball followed captain Bobby Moore up the steps to the Royal Box to collect his winning medal from the Queen.

His heroics led to his move from Blackpool to Everton in August 1966 for a then record fee of £110,000.

Everton reached the FA Cup Final in 1968 only to lose to West Bromwich Albion, but in 1969-70 Everton went on to win the old First Division Championship.

But there was disappointment for Ball and England at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico when having reached the quarter finals, England lost 3-2 to West Germany in extra time having been 2-0 up.

Article from virgin media.  Photo from Arsenal.com

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